Sunday, 6 March 2011

Colour analysis, also called skin tone color matching or color seasons, is the process of finding colors of clothing and makeup to match a person's complexion, eye color, and hair color. It is often used as an aid to wardrobe planning and style consulting.

Color analysis is the process of determining the colors that best suit an individual's natural coloring. There are several means of analysing personal coloring. The most well-known is "seasonal" color analysis, which places individual coloring into four general categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. "Winters" and "Summers" have cool coloring. Some clues that a person has cool coloring might include ash tones in the hair, grey-blue eyes and pinkish undertones to the skin. "Springs" and "Autumns" have warm coloring. Some signs of warm coloring are red or golden hair, golden brown eyes and golden undertones to the skin.

Winter

Winter is, along with Summer, one of the two "cool" (i.e. blue-based) palettes. This means that a person who is a Winter should wear colors that have blue undertones. Winters differ from Summers in that their skin tends to contrast dramatically with their hair and eye color, and therefore seem “intense.”[14] This means that they look best when dressed in colors that are relatively more intense, and that contain sharper contrasts, than would look best on a person belonging to the other "cool" season (Summer). When dressed in the strongly contrasting colours that suit them best, Winters look “intense”, “pure” and “clean”.[14] When Winters dress in less intense or highly contrasting colours, the strong contrasts between their skin on the one hand and their hair and eyes on the other will seem “washed out.”

Summer

Summer is, along with Winter, one of the two "cool" (i.e. blue-based) palettes. This means that a person who is a Summer should wear colors that have blue undertones. Summers differ from Winters in that their skin tends to contrast gently with their hair and eye color, and therefore seem “softer” and “less intense.” This means that they look best when dressed in colors that are also relatively softer or less intense, and that contain less dramatic contrasts, than the colors which look best on a person belonging to the other "cool" season (Winter). When dressed in the less strongly contrasting colours that suit them best, Summers look “harmonious” and “subtle.”When Summers dress in more intense or highly contrasting colours, the gentle contrasts between their skin on the one hand and their hair and eyes on the other will seem “overpowered.”

Spring

Spring is, along with Autumn, one of the two "warm" (i.e. yellow-based) palettes. This means that a person who is a Spring should wear colours that have yellow undertones. The main difference between Spring and Autumn colour palette is that the Spring's colours are based on yellow such as yellow sparkling gold, in contrast with Autumn's colours which are based on deep gold. As a result spring's colours are intense, often bright and playful.

Autumn

Autumn is, along with Spring, one of the two "warm" (i.e. yellow-based) palettes. This means that a person who is an Autumn should wear colors that have yellow undertones. Generally the autumn colours are warm, soft, and deep. Some of the autumn colours are brick, coffee, caramel, beige, tomato red, forest green.People who fall under this category usually have brown hair with golden or red undertones but a person with almost black hair and skin with yellow undertones can find him or herself to be an autumn too.

Saturday, 5 March 2011

Independent of fat percentage, weight or width, female body shapes are categorised into 1 of 4 elementary geometric shapes, though there are very wide ranges of actual sizes within each shape:

Apple (triangle downward)

Apple shaped women have broad(er) shoulders compared to their (narrower) hips. Apple shaped women tend to have slim legs/thighs, while the abdomen and chest look out of proportion compared to the rest of the body. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

Style icons: Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet

Banana or straight/"boyish" (rectangular)

The waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hips or bust measurement. Body fat is distributed predominantly in the abdomen, buttocks, chest, and face. This overall fat distribution creates the typical ruler (straight) shape.

Style icons: Cameron Diaz, Mischa Barton, Kiera Knightley

Pear or spoon or bell (triangle upward)

The hip measurement is greater than the bust measurement. The distribution of fat varies, with fat tending to deposit first in the buttocks, hips, and thighs. As body fat percentage increases, an increasing proportion of body fat is distributed around the waist and upper abdomen. The women of this body type tend to have a (relatively) larger rear, robust thighs, and a small(er) bosom.

Style icons: Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera, Tyra Banks

Hourglass shape. (triangles opposing, facing in)

The hip and bust are almost of equal size with a narrow waist. Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips, and rear before other parts, such as the waist and upper abdomen.

Style icons: Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway

Marilyn Monroe

A study of over 6,000 women carried out by researchers at the North Carolina State University around 2005 found that 46% were banana (rectangular), just over 20% pear, just under 14% apple, and 8% hourglass. Another study has found "that the average woman's waistline had expanded by six inches since the 1950s" and that today women are taller and have bigger busts and hips than those of the 1950s.

How do you dress for/style outfits your shape?(WATCH OUT FOR MY BODY SHAPE BLOG SERIES ON EACH BODY TYPE)

Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton (born 9 January 1982) is the fiancée of Prince William of Wales. Since their relationship began, Middleton has received widespread media attention and there was much speculation that they would eventually marry. On 16 November 2010, the office of the Prince of Wales at Clarence House announced their engagement. On 23 November, it was announced the weddingwill take place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey, with the day declared a bank holiday in the UK.

Middleton grew up in Berkshire and, after attending Marlborough College, went to the University of St Andrews, where she met Prince William, also studying there, in 2001. They started a relationship, followed by media attention, triggering complaints by Middleton that the media were harassing her. In April 2007, the press reported that William and Middleton had split up. They continued to be friends, and later in 2007 they reunited. Since then, Middleton has attended many high-profile royal events. She has been admired for her fashion sense and has been placed on numerous "best dressed" lists.